On December 11, KARE’s monthly luncheon meeting featured a performance of holiday songs by Morton Ranch High School’s JaZZ’d Show Choir. Tracey Patterson, KARE’s Co-Chair 2nd Vice President shared “ The auditioned group is made up of select singers from the choral department, mostly juniors and seniors. They enjoy performing for the community and have a busy holiday performance schedule”. KARE’s Community Service Chair, Jamie Wolman shared “When I retired from Katy ISD, I wanted to still stay in touch with the students. I was a mentor in the Keys mentor program for Katy ISD at the elementary level. Today, I had the pleasure of seeing one of the students I mentored, at the KARE meeting, as she sang in the Morton Ranch High School JaZZ’d Choir.
KARE is also actively collecting and delivering books to Katy Community businesses, churches and Katy ISD campuses through their Book Project. Books have been delivered this year to
Mark A. Chapman YMCA, Bear Creek United Methodist Church, for their neighborhood ministry program, Cardiff Junior High, Hutsell Elementary, Golbow Elementary and Mayde Creek High School’s Pregnancy Education Program.
Looking ahead, KARE is energetically collecting money for their Scholarship project with KARE members participating in Spirit Nights, at local restaurants, and contributing towards the scholarship fund at monthly meetings. Scholarships will be presented, in April, to graduating Katy ISD Seniors who are entering college in the fall, as an Education major and planning to become a public school teacher. KARE’s scholarship project has grown from giving one scholarship to eight scholarships in 2018. Each recipient received $1200 due to the efforts of KARE. Any graduating Katy ISD seniors, interested in pursuing an Education Degree, can get an application from their campus counselor.
KARE’s next meeting will be held on January 8, 2020 and will feature “Volunteering in the Community”. All public school employees who retired under the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) are welcome to attend and bring a retired educator, friend or neighbor who is not a current member. KARE represents anyone who has worked in a school district and retired through the TRS. This includes all employees from custodian to superintendent. Others interested in supporting the goals of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) are welcome to join as associate members.
KARE meetings are held at 11:30 a.m. at the Leonard E. Merrell Center, Room 144, located at the West Entrance. For more information about the Katy Area Retired Educators check out its website at http://www.localunits.org/KARE/ .
-
- Bear Creek United Methodist Church Book Donation L to R Kimmie Moore, Jeanne Coleman (KARE) and Susie Morales
-
- Morton Ranch High School JaZZ’d Show Choir
-
- Morton Ranch High School JaZZ’d Show Choir with Director David Van Wyk and KARE 2nd Vice-President’s Marsha Smith and Tracey Patterson
Photos: Courtesy of Sue Perez, Karen Thornton and Jeanne Coleman